In anti-trafficking raid: 43 women rescued from Cebu City bars

CEBU, Philippines - In line with efforts to stop human trafficking in Central Visayas, the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RATFF) 7 rescued 43 women and arrested six alleged pimps from two bars along General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City late Saturday night.

The operation was conducted simultaneously past 11 p.m. at Pussycats and Club Temptation located just across each other. The two establishments allegedly employ women who are paid for sex, said RATTF chief Ma. Theresa Macatangay.

Macatangay led the operation at Pussycats while her deputy, Insp. Sheryl Bautista, led the operation at Club Temptation.

Representatives from the International Justice Mission, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Regional Intelligence Division assisted in the operation.

Macatangay said they arrested one of the alleged pimps after she allegedly received the P3,000 marked money from the police decoy who posed as customer.

They then rescued the women who, at the time, were pole dancing, she said.

Of the 43 women, 24 are from Pussycats and 19 are from Club Temptation.

Macatangay said they are withholding the names of the suspects pending investigation.

Both bars were placed under a month-long surveillance, she said, following information that they employ minors, some of whom are reportedly being paid to have sex with male customers.

Macatangay said the operation was carried out smoothly. No customer from either bar was arrested.  The two bars are reportedly owned by foreigners and cater mostly to adults.

A case for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the law against trafficking in persons will be filed against the suspects. The suspects are now detained at the cell of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.

The suspects refused to be interviewed. One of the women said, “Naa man sad mi right na dili mu-comment, di ba? (We have a right not to comment, right?)”

Lawyer Alex Tolentino who serves as legal counsel for Pussycats said his clients deny the allegations. He also accused the raiding team of burglary and for conducted the raid even without a warrant.

“Gilungkab nila. Grabe sad. Naa sa pictures namo, giguba g’yud nila. Naa sila’y martilyo ug bara. Unya, kadto ra untang ilang gika-entrap ang ilang gidakop. Nag-raid man sila na wa man sila’y search warrant. (They broke into the bar.  We have pictures to show they used a hammer and a crow bar.  They should have arrested only those subject of entrapment.  They conducted the raid even without warrant),” Tolentino told The Freeman yesterday.

He also said that Pussycats is owned by a local corporation of Filipinos, not foreigners, as claimed by the raiding team.

He said he will conduct his own investigation into the raid and will speak with RATFF officials today before deciding on any legal action.

On condition of anonymity, a woman who serves with the auditing staff of Pussycats, said some P200,000 cash, their sale since last week, and a laptop went missing from the two cash boxes shortly after the raid.

“Hasta among tip envelope ug mga sinsiyo na tag-P10, giapil sad og kuha,” she said.

Meanwhile, DSWD-7 information officer Kerwin Macopia said the victims were made to undergo dental aging test and orientation right after their arrival at DSWD.

He said the dental aging test showed 14 of the rescued women might be minors estimated to be between 17 and 18, while the other 28 are adults.

Those suspected to be minors were brought to “Her Space,” a temporary shelter for rescued women and children who are victims of human trafficking while the 28 adults reportedly decided not to avail of help from DSWD. The adults were released after they signed a manifestation, as well as a discharge slip.

“Six of those are purchased girls who were the subjects with which that determined the act or purpose or means of trafficking was present. They have been working for a year and most of them applied on their own,” Macopia said.

After stress debriefing and counseling, the minors will be returned to their families as long as the families are capable of taking care of them, he added. — /JMO (FREEMAN)